Time, space and support for artists

BELAY Creative Mentoring Programme Launch at The Art House - 26 August 2014

27.08.2014

BELAY launched at The Art House in Wakefield this week with an event which saw 32 Wakefield-based artists meet for an afternoon of workshops and networking. The artists at the event ranged in age from those still in full time education to individuals perusing a second career in the Visual Arts. Art forms represented at the event were as diverse as photography, film-making, ceramics, paper sculpture, jewellery-making, painting, textiles, digital art, multi-media and printmaking.

Hannah Mason, The Art House BELAY Mentoring Programme Manager said today: “At The Art House we provide time, space and support for talented artists to develop their work and connect with audiences. The BELAY Creative Mentoring Programme is unique for the Yorkshire region in that it allows us to offer artists practical business development support through an intensive year-long programme, alongside access to state-of-the-art facilities and opportunities to help them develop their practice.

We will support the artists in creating a professional business plan that will help them to understand the sector and their potential markets. We will also provide access to professional networks and residency with the opportunity to rent one of 34 new artists’ studios in the Old Drury Lane Library building conversion.”

Feedback from the event included:

"So much was inspiring for me - and has already helped me clarify my thinking on a couple of areas."

"Absolutely brilliant! It felt like a like-minded community coming alive."

"We are all the same: we love what we do; we are part of a community and it's taken The Art House to identify the need."

"Really enagaging"

"Very worthwhile - thank you"

"Loved it!"

The launch event was the first in the series of BELAY events, which are FREE to those enrolled on the programme. There are still spaces on the programme. You can find out more or enrol bu licking the box below.

A limited number of places will be made available to non-BELAY members. To make sure you are kept informed, sign up for our mailing list below

BELAY is a 12 month programme, running from June 2014 to June 2015, which is funded by The European Regional Development Fund.